Fishing Report: July 15-Aug. 15, 2007

This week has been a special one at Mango Creek Lodge. Be it the right winds, right tides, or simply hungry fish, the fishing has been exceptional for permit on the fly.

We first turn to Steve Calaway, who finished up his month in Honduras by coming back to Mango Creek to spend the week chasing permit. Day after day, he was spotting and casting to giant schools but simply could not get one to take. Yet Steve was not to be dissuaded. He was constantly adjusting his tactics and retooling his trout-fishing instincts to fit the requirements of a saltwater assassin. And with the right combination of skill and a bit of luck, Steve made his time down here truly count. Here's Steve's recounting in his own words:

We stalked a couple of schools of big permit and got a few chases but no bites. Almost dark, time to go in, but we checked out one more spot on the boat ride home, one last chance as the sun threatened to disappear, leaving us to navigate the reef and mangrove system in the dark.

"Perfect cast," whispered Tie-Tie on my last cast of the sunset. I threw 70 feet of line, dropping the white crab pattern 7 feet in front of a pair. The giant tails moved towards the crab, then it happened, she ate. Tug, Tug, wham, my line screamed out to the sea and I was hooked up--it wasn't a dream. 20 years of fishing trout doesn't compare to this beast of the sea. Tie-Tie and I followed her, by boat, as she led us out to sea. Day turned to dusk and the fish pulled on, sometimes giving, mostly taking. Eternal moments in time. She started giving more, and I took until we were one, together under a tropical sky. Laughing, high-fives, hug, yell, "Oh my God," thank you, . . . thank you.

Steve caught this magnificent fish on a size 16 White Turneffe Crab pattern after literally casting everything else he had in his box at permit that week. He also caught the fish after Tie-Tie recommended making the leader a bit longer and using 12-lb tippet instead of 15-lb.

After getting back to the lodge, Steve was so excited he could barely sit still. He just kept repeating, "In 20 years of fishing, man, that was the best fish I've ever caught."

Not to be outdone, our guide, Perry, set off the following morning with Carlo Gobetti. Carlo was over from Italy and spent a few days of his trip to Roatan dayfishing with us. In similar fashion, Carlo made the right cast at the right time, and luck graced yet another fisherman with a nice permit--the second one to be landed in 24 hours.

Congratulations to both fisherman on two great fish.

One final note: Thankfully, we were hardly touched by vicious Hurricane Dean, which passed about 100 miles north of us early in the morning on Aug. 21. Despite the 160-mph sustained winds and torrential rain near the center of the Category 5 storm, we were hardly shaken down here on Roatan. In fact, we saw little more than gusty winds and above-average tides. Looks like our lucky streak continues!

Fishing Report: May 15-July 15, 2007

It's 83 degrees at 6 in the morning as you step out onto the porch of your cabana to watch a Caribbean sun peak up over the horizon. A cloudless sky and light breeze give you that giddy feeling--the one you get when you realize that the conditions are going to be perfect for a day out on the water. You look toward the restaurant to see your guide, already putting fuel in the boat and gearing up your rods. With no other guests staying at the lodge, it will be just you and him stalking fish up and down the island for hours. What better way to spend a summer day?

For those guests who've visited us during the past couple of months, this has been a very common scenario. And with the great weather and the small crowds, anglers have been taking advantage as best they can.

The beginning of July brought us a group of eight fishermen, most of them members of a fly fishing club from Prescott, Arizona. The group had a great time, both on and off the water, and caught a number of sizeable bonefish while often sighting permit as well. But without a doubt, the fish of the trip was the impressive 40-lb. tarpon that Mary Kryzsik caught with her guide, Tie-Tie. The fish and she did battle, with some spectacular jumps from both the fish and Mary. In the end, the fish was safely landed, photographed, and released. Mary, arriving back at the lodge, was clearly excited about her first tarpon and didn't stop smiling for the rest of the week.


Another great group was a family of four from Savannah, Georgia. From day one, the three boys--Matt, Trey and their father, Gage--were catching bonefish on a regular basis. The three fisherman took turns switching off between boats and guides and always had fish and a good time.

These guys also tried a couple of new techniques being tried out by our guides. Rumors of a secret tidal pond that was home to a number of huge, solitary bonefish were enough to entice younger brother Matt into loading up a couple of kayaks into the skiff for an afternoon. Once in the kayak, he ventured off with his guide, Kessel, in search of this fabled "lago de plata." Unfortunately, they came back empty-handed that afternoon, but the legend persists, and our guides are still eager to tap into this new-found fountain of fish.

On another afternoon, older brother Trey caught a beautiful, healthy bonefish while fishing with Kessel. However, when it came time to take the picture, Trey had to hand the fish over to Kessel to give some perspective as to just how large it was. At well over 6'4'', Trey's enormous frame and hands made even a fish that size look small. So, as the picture shows, Kessel (being an average-size man) was able to do the big fish some justice.


July also brought something very special to Mango Creek Lodge. A group of eight students accompanied by a couple of professors from Colorado College came to visit for a 10-day class dealing with writing and its connection with the ocean. One of the professors, Steve Brown, spends a good part of the year as a fly fishing guide in Telluride, Colorado. And, seeing as how he was already down here ... . Well, as you can imagine, Steve made it a point to sneak out onto the water a couple of times to have a shot at some tailing bones.

Early one morning, Steve managed to hook a nice fish while fishing the flat that sits right in front of the small village of Oak Ridge. Yet after the initial excitement of the take and first big run wore off, both Steve and his guide, Kessel, realized that there was a speed boat bearing down on them and about to run right over the line between them and the fish. Kessel, running toward the oncoming boat, started waving his hands wildly and begging the boat to stop before it mangled the line and, worse, lost the fish. At the last second, the driver let off the throttle, saving the line, the fish, and probably Steve's good mood as well. But this fish was far from landed. As soon as it left the deeper channel, it headed straight for the shallows of the reef, darting through the exposed coral heads that threatened to finish the job that the boat didn't do. Steve, in no mood to lose the fish after all this, took off after it. With his rod held high over his head, he deftly raced through ankle deep water, and around several sharp coral heads, in a desperate attempt to keep the fish on.

After such an epic battle, Steve was finally able to land and photograph this brave bonefish. That night, he was congratulated by both his students and our staff on his catch after retelling the entire story just before dinner. Ironically, the entire class was in the midst of reading Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. What better way to illustrate the ancient struggle between man and fish that this classic book discusses than actually participating in it yourself? Well done, Mr. Callahan.


Finally, as part of the students' ocean experience, Steve's wife, Amy, took the four female students out early one morning for a brief casting class and a look at the flats. Amy is also an avid fly fisherman and gives casting classes to clients in Telluride. While the girls were casting, Steve snuck off to the far side of the flat to get some shots at some early tailing schools of bonefish. By the time Steve headed back toward the boat, Amy had all four girls spaced out along the edge of the flat, already casting to moving fish. It was a striking sight: five lovely young women casting in near-unison as the rising sun allowed a view of nothing but their silhouettes over the glaring water. That, friends, might be the greatest way to spend a summer day.

Fishing Report: April 15-May 15, 2007

May fishing at Mango Creek Lodge has meant one thing: big bonefish. In the past month, with less pressure on our flats and more trips to the island of Guanaja, fisherman have been landing some impressive bones. As with anywhere, fly selection and presentation are paramount at Mango Creek. But recent success has shown that the senses of these larger fish are even more acute than the typical bonefish and require slightly different tactics.

First, a lighter-weight rod and line allow for a softer presentation of the fly. In instances in which a bonefisherman might normally opt for an 8-wt. set-up, gearing down even to a 7-wt. might make a difference (as long as the distance and accuracy of your casts don't suffer too much). Also, unweighted flies in the size 10-12 range make casting to a school of tailing bonefish even less conspicuous. So, with many days of calm water and spooky fish ahead of us this summer, thinking small might be one key to catching big fish. As one past guest put it, "It's saltwater spring creek fishing."

Here's a run-down of our recent guests:

Guests Andy Klein and Bob Pearson both hooked up to a number of nice-sized bones during their week stay at the lodge in early May. Andy had been to Roatan before on a diving vacation but had come this time to check out the flats with his old college roommate, Bob. The two of them had nice weather and plenty of shots at bones and permit. In the end, after 6 days of fishing and plenty of sightings, the permit wouldn't cooperate. However, their guide, Kessel, worked hard to get them onto some great bonefish.


These guys caught most of their fish on a small, brown bonefish bitter pattern--a Mango Creek staple. Our guides use this pattern often, both in brown and olive colors. They also found that a sturdy weed-guard was vital to keep the fly from catching the bottom of the shallower flats. As a quick solution, a short piece of monofilament can be tied and then glued to the head of the fly. This is possible with a variety of typical saltwater flies, making them more practical in shallow flats.

The week before, our guests included John and Margi Pearson, along with Margi's parents, Tom and Becky. After spending a few days on the flats near the lodge, they decided it would be worthwhile to make the trip over to Guanaja for a night. Leaving early Wednesday morning with our guides Tie-Tie and Kessel, the foursome spent 2 days wandering the sandy flats surrounding Guanaja and catching some huge bonefish. All four anglers had a wonderful time and said that the adventure to Guanaja really enriched their experience here. Undoubtedly, the chance to cast to bonefish this size in rarely fished water is a treat. But to be able to do it in such a gorgeous environment with the tall island of Guanaja in the background is what truly makes it special.



As far as other new fishing developments go at Mango Creek Lodge, everyone is excited about the unique possibilities offered by our Hobie kayaks. A few of our guides and management staff have had the chance to take these sleek crafts out for some exploratory runs. And after spending hours navigating the mangrove mazes on the far eastern end of the island, all agree that there is an enormous potential for some great fishing. Paddling the shallow mangrove ponds, well-hidden in the interior of the island, we spotted five or six large bonefish and a number of nice-sized snook. Our guides said that much of this water is unreachable in a skiff because the mangrove channels are too narrow and unwadeable because the bottom is far too soft. But in a kayak, we were able to get into these secluded areas quickly and quietly.

What has really been impressive is the stability and maneuverability of these kayaks. While moving along the slim canals, our guides were standing up in their boats and poling them along as they spotted fish. We've also found that the kayaks are more than stable enough to make a good, long cast with a fly rod without worrying about tipping over.

Finally, our expeditions in the kayaks also led us to discovering another great fishing opportunity. On the island of Morat, which sits just beyond the eastern most tip of Roatan, there is a large tidal pond that is rumored to be a good snook fishery. In the past, it has been tough to make any decent cast to these fish. Just like the mangroves, there was no way to get a skiff into the pond, and the bottom was not nearly hard enough to wade. Yet again, we hoped that the kayaks would prove to be invaluable in reaching this area. But to our surprise, despite what many of the locals had told us, the pond was nearly dried up when we arrived. To make matters worse, the bodies of dead snook lie along the cracked edges of the water. Our Mango Creek guides told us that the pond had never been so low and were concerned that the remainder of the dry season would leave the pond completely emptied. Not wanting to lose such a promising spot, a crew was immediately sent up from the lodge to clear out the blocked connection with the ocean. Within 2 hours, the pond that had been almost completely empty was again filling with water. Hopefully, our efforts will be able to save the fish population of the Morat pond and provide us with another interesting place to explore.

Fishing Report: March 15-April 15, 2007

As far as the fishing goes at Mango Creek Lodge, it seems that March showers have brought April flowers. The weather has taken a welcome turn for the better, and more and more schools of permit are being spotted, cast to, and caught by our fishermen. In addition, the challenging, good-sized bonefish on the flats are consistently rewarding to catch. Unlike other areas of the Caribbean, a bonefish at Mango Creek Lodge is not a given; these fish are bigger, spookier, and more discerning. But many of those who have been patient and diligent have been rewarded by hooking bonefish in the 7-lbs.+ range. Here's a recap of the latest action.

The end of March saw the arrival of four guests from Sweden eager to chase down fish on our exotic island. And although the Scandinavians were dealing with the tail end of our ugly March weather, fisherman Jonas Andersson and his guide, Kessel, landed an enormous permit. It was estimated to be between 25 and 27 lbs., and it had been found cruising along a deep water edge. Interestingly enough, this monster was hooked not on a typical crab pattern, but instead on a 10-wt. rod rigged with a shock leader and a tarpon fly! Still, even with a heavy outfit like that, the fish took more than 25 minutes to land and put up a staggering and exhausting fight.


Also in March, we were visited by a lone Englishman, Alexander Kennedy, who stayed just long enough to get a taste of what Mango Creek has to offer. In a couple of days of clear skies and light winds, Alexander caught a number of good-sized bonefish with the aid of his guide, Miguel.


Regularly, bonefish have been spotted in great numbers. In fact, fisherman have been returning to the lodge in disbelief of the enormity of the schools of fish they were able to stalk and cast to. Yet many of these anglers have also been dumbfounded by their pickiness. Generally, small (size 10-8 hooks with some as tiny as a size 12) patterns that match the bottom are allowing for a quiet presentation and a better chance of a hook up. Also, it must be stressed that because most of our local flats are turtle grass and coral, a sturdy weed guard can be the key to ensuring you don't spend the day snagging the bottom.

On Easter Sunday, a couple from Colorado managed to sneak away from their last week of skiing to get some time in on the water. Be it for the long winter or the pina coladas, both said it took a couple of days to "get the kinks out." But once they did, guests Sammy and Weatherly made the most of their tropical holiday with their guide, Kessel. Several bones were caught, both in the deeper areas along the north end of Barbaret Island and on the flats around Helene. Most importantly, Sammy struck gold halfway through their trip when he managed to land his first permit. With the trophy fish behind him, he and Weatherly were able to kick back and enjoy the gorgeous scenery as they fished out the rest of the week, finding time for a little snorkeling as well as a siesta here and there.

Without a doubt, the fishing only continues to improve as the peak of the busy season is already behind us. With a little more spare time on our hands, everyone is anxious to explore new areas beyond our well-known haunts to expand the lodge's repertoire of flats. Also, pioneering excursions by kayak are taking place as we speak into the mangrove canals that run like veins through the eastern quarter of the island.

Fishing Report: March 1-15, 2007

Still in the early part of the busy season, the fishing at Mango Creek has been steady but somewhat daunted by windy conditions and some rainy days.

Taking advantage of some sun at the beginning of the month, a foursome of spin fisherman from New Jersey caught a large assortment of species in the 5 days they had on the water.

In fact, guests Peter Tabia and John Sbarbaro landed (and photographed) nine types of fish in 2 days on spinning gear: barracuda, snook, sun shark, grouper, box fish, yellowtail, red snapper, bonefish, box fish, and a trunk fish. Near the end of the trip, each landed at least one permit, one of which was caught in front of the lodge near the end of the day.

During the same week, the two other gentlemen from Jersey spent their days hooking some spectacular needlefish and barracuda. Guest Gene Wowk also landed a nice-sized permit with his spinning gear while wading the flats east of the lodge. Congratulations to all four guys on a successful trip.

The following week, the action returned to "the fly." Guests Peter Litwin and John Potter spent a few days on the flats near the lodge catching several bonefish with their guide, Perry. On the morning of March 15, they landed permits within an hour of one another. Finally, as an added bonus, Peter caught a large snook on his last day of fishing to finish off a great week.

The boys also chose to head over to Guanaja, an island that lies about 20 miles to the east of Roatan and is rumored to have a plethora of flats that see very little pressure.

Despite the rough crossing, both fisherman caught bonefish, but not in the mythical amounts they were hoping for. Trips to Guanaja cost extra (because of the distance traveled and the necessity of using two boats to go) and are extremely dependent on the weather. And though the fishing there has not yet lived up to its reputation, Mango Creek Lodge guides are anxious to explore and better learn this new collection of flats.

Fishing Report: February 2007

Windy conditions in the last few days have made things more challenging for some of our fisherman out on the flats as the fish have been hard to spot and access to some areas has been limited. Despite these blustery conditions, there has still been much success. In fact, in the last couple of weeks, guest Perry Herst Jr. and his guide, Perry, were able to catch a pair of good-sized tarpon in the wind shelter of the mangrove canals, and earlier in the month, guest Phil Clough landed a great-looking tarpon in a steady rain.

Fly selection has been the real key recently. A more discerning population of bonefish has required fly patterns that differ from the standard fare. According to the guides, the smaller-sized olive or dark brown bonefish bitters (with weed guard) have been producing good results in the shallow flats around the lodge. And, after experimenting with a number of patterns, Herlé Hamon was able to land a nice-sized Permit on a Merkin crab imitation with his guide, Tie-Tie.

For many of the fisherman, their stay at Mango Creek gave them shots at other species of fish as well. Both Perry Herst Jr. and Jeff Wiese brought in 3-foot-plus barracudas that not only gave the fisherman a good fight but also provided dinner for the families of the guides as well.

Finally, cheers to Swiss guest Neil Harrison, who took advantage of our Hobie kayak and set off to do some fishing on his own. Neil loved the sleekness and stealth of the kayaks, and the pedal system allowed him to keep his hands free to troll and cast while still driving the kayak. Plus, he said paddling around all day was "a blast" in and of itself. Hopefully, the arrival of five more kayaks within the next week or two should allow more anglers the chance to venture off on their own and enjoy not only the fishing but also the scenery of the island.

With the spring months just around the corner, the wind should begin to settle, and we’re looking forward to calm, sunny days full of action on the water.